Gingival Health, Plaque Control
Conditions
Keywords
sonic, toothbrush, oscillating
Brief summary
Objective:To evaluate the usefulness of a sonic toothbrush compared to an electric toothbrush for plaque removal and improving gingival health.Patients:Patients over 18 years of age who attend the Master's Degree in Medicine, Surgery and Oral Implantology of the HOUB or other clinical activities of the group cooperating with the study, who comply with the follow-up, and sign the informed consent.Material and method:A randomized clinical trial will be conducted.
Detailed description
This study is a single-center, randomized, evaluator-blinded, 2×2 crossover clinical trial designed to compare the effectiveness of a sonic toothbrush and an oscillating-rotating powered toothbrush in improving oral hygiene and gingival health in adult participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two intervention sequences. Each intervention period will last three weeks and will be separated by a three-week washout period during which standardized oral hygiene measures will be used to minimize potential carryover effects. The total study duration for each participant will be nine weeks. At baseline and follow-up visits, participants will undergo oral examinations and standardized assessments performed by a trained examiner blinded to the assigned toothbrush. Clinical and salivary measurements will be collected throughout the study according to the protocol schedule. Participants will receive standardized oral hygiene instructions and will be provided with the same fluoridated toothpaste for the entire study period. The use of additional antiseptic oral products or intensive oral hygiene devices will not be permitted during the intervention periods unless clinically indicated. The study aims to generate updated clinical evidence regarding the comparative performance of two widely used powered-toothbrush technologies under controlled conditions. The crossover design allows each participant to serve as his or her own control, reducing inter-individual variability and increasing the precision of treatment comparisons. The study will be conducted at the Hospital Odontològic Universitat de Barcelona (HOUB) in accordance with Good Clinical Practice principles, applicable regulatory requirements, and ethical standards for research involving human participants.
Interventions
DEVICEsonic toothbrush
Participants will use a powered sonic toothbrush for 3 weeks as part of a randomized crossover study. Subjects will be instructed to brush twice daily (morning and evening) for 2 minutes using a standardized fluoridated toothpaste provided by the investigators. Standardized oral hygiene instructions will be given at the beginning of each intervention period. No antiseptic mouthwashes or additional intensive oral hygiene devices will be allowed during the study period.
Sponsors
University of Barcelona
Hospital Odontològic UB
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Due to the nature of the interventions, participants and investigators cannot be blinded to the toothbrush assigned. However, the outcome assessor and data analyst will be fully blinded to treatment allocation to minimize bias
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Adults aged 18 years or older. Able to perform daily oral hygiene independently. Presence of at least 20 natural teeth and/or implant-supported restorations. Patients attending the Master of Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery and Oral Implantology clinics at the Hospital Odontològic Universitat de Barcelona (HOUB). Willing and able to comply with study procedures and follow-up visits. Provision of written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Moderate or severe periodontitis requiring immediate treatment. Fixed orthodontic appliances. Use of systemic antibiotics or antiseptic mouthwashes (e.g., chlorhexidine) within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Participants unable to cooperate with study procedures due to psychomotor dysfunction or behavioral disorders.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Plaque Index (O'Leary Plaque Control Record) | Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks). | Change in the percentage of tooth surfaces with dental plaque, assessed using the O'Leary Plaque Control Record. Plaque presence will be recorded on four surfaces of each tooth after application of a plaque-disclosing agent. Results will be expressed as the percentage of surfaces with plaque. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Gingival Bleeding Index | Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks). | Change in gingival inflammation assessed using the Silness and Löe Gingival Index, based on color changes, edema, and bleeding on probing. |
| Salivary pH | Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks). | Change in salivary pH measured using pH indicator strips applied to unstimulated saliva samples collected under standardized conditions |
| Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate | Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks). | Change in unstimulated salivary flow rate (mL/min), measured by collecting saliva for 5 minutes in a sterile container. |
| Total Bacterial Load (16S rRNA Quantification) | Baseline and after each 3-week intervention period (up to 9 weeks). | Change in total salivary bacterial load determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR) quantification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, expressed as copies per mL of saliva. |
Contacts
CONTACTJosé López-López, Doctor
Outcome results
None listed